Ice Chest Dry Rack

ABSTRACT

An ice chest (a.k.a. portable cooler) rack designed to keep meats and/or other goods dry while inside the ice chest. The intent of the design is to keep game and/or domestic meats and/or other goods from getting “freezer burned”, and/or becoming water logged from coming into contact for periods of time with dry ice, ice, and/or water/liquids caused from melting/spillage. It has also been shown that this will prevent premature spoiling of products due to water logging. The present invention may be configured in a variety of different ways and may be constructed from a multitude of different materials including stainless steel, wood, extruded or molded plastics, various metals, aluminum, all with satisfactory results. The present invention may be configured to support all types of items such as game meats, domestic meats, dry goods, packaged or unpackaged foods, canned and/or bottled beverages, bulk items, or any other items desired to be kept away from the dry ice, various types of ice and/or water/liquids caused by ice melt/spillage of stored items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in relation to accessories for ice chests, boxes, and the like, and is considered an ice chest dry rack designed to keep foods and other items dry, from becoming freezer burned and/or water logged from the water that accumulates in ice chests from ice melt.

The invention is designed to fit inside of a variety of different ice chests and has novel and unique features of vertical supports from 6″-8″ high and linear support edges, along with linear supports and/or grids for a uniform and secure support system, to allow for any number of different types of ice and/or dry ice to fit under the rack while keeping the desired items from coming into contact with said ice products, water, and/or dry ice.

As may be determined by a review of the below cited patents, the prior inventions do not show a unique and specific design intent of singularly and purposefully keeping items from coming into contact with various ice products, dry ice and/or water, thus preventing early spoilage and/or water logging.

A list of prior patents which may be of interest is presented below:

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,185 Spahr; Williams Oct. 22, 1990

The above listed patent contemplates a specific function and design for compressing the ice inside the ice chest to slow the melting process, which does not contemplate the apparatus or method of the present invention which is singular in its function to keep items in the ice chest dry and from coming into contact with the cooling materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An ice chest (AKA portable cooler) rack designed to keep game meats and/or other goods dry while inside the ice chest.

The intent of the design is to keep meats and/or other goods from getting “freezer burned”, and/or becoming water logged from coming into contact for periods of time with dry ice, ice, and/or water caused from melting. It has also been shown that this will prevent premature spoiling of products. Due to water logging.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

In FIG. 1, the drawing shows the length side view which details the vertical supports and a linear side support running the length of the rack.

In FIG. 2, the drawing shows the top view (with both way linear “grid” type top) and the 4 side linear support rails.

In FIG. 3, the drawing shows the end view, which details the vertical supports as well as the linear side support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention embodies at least 4 vertical supports (may be more as required for proper support) integrated with 4 side horizontal supports, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, at least one middle horizontal support (may be more as required for proper support) and may include a top consisting of either one way, or two way linear supports, as depicted in FIG. 2, for a more stable platform for placing items on.

The invention will be sized to fit most sized ice chests and/or to fit the specific ice chest that it will be used for and may be made to fit a portion of the cooler (i.e.; half size to keep desired items dry and the remaining half of the ice chest will not have a rack so as to allow for items that are desired to come into contact with the ice and/or water to do so), or sized to keep all of the items in the cooler dry (full size of cooler) and/or from coming into contact with dry ice, ice and/or water.

It has been found that the system shown keeps all items desired from coming into contact with dry ice, differing types of ice and/or water/liquids which keeps the items from spoiling prematurely, getting “freezer burned” and/or getting water logged from such contact.

The present invention may be configured in a variety of different ways and may be constructed from a multitude of different materials including stainless steel, wood, extruded or molded plastics, various metals, aluminum. All of these items have shown to be satisfactory.

The present invention may be configured to support all types of items such as game meats, domestic meats, dry goods, packaged or unpackaged foods, canned and/or bottled beverages, bulk items, or any other items desired to be kept away from the dry ice, various types of ice and/or water caused by ice melt and/or spillage of stored items.

The present invention is shown to keep items dry with up to 8 bags of melted ice in the ice chest. If the end user fails to empty the water/liquids, the items stored on the rack will still be kept dry and/or out of contact with ice products, dry ice and/or water/liquids. The form and function of the present invention gives excellent stability during transportation.

The prior art does not show a unique and singular form and function to keep items dry if there is a substantial amount of water/liquid due to melting of ice products and/or spillage of stored items. The main function of the prior art is understood to be the compression of the ice to prolong the cooling process with only a secondary function of keeping items dry. The prior art would not keep items dry if there is more liquid in the ice chest than the height of the rack where the items are placed. 

1. A method of keeping the items in the ice chest/ice box from coming into contact with dry ice, various ice products, and/or water/liquids accumulated from ice melt and/or spillage, thus keeping said items dry, comprising the following steps: Vertical supports to support the top of the rack (at least 4 and may be more as required) and any number of horizontal middle supports to be able to support the weight of the items placed on rack. The top (where the items are placed) may consist of just 3 parallel linear horizontal rails as shown in the prototype photo's, and/or a top placed over, or integrated into the support rails, that includes parallel slats in a “grid” type system (linear slats going both directions) and/or parallel linear slats going only one direction, to give a more even distribution and fuller support for the items in the ice chest. The present invention may be configured in a variety of different ways and may be constructed from a multitude of different materials including stainless steel, wood, extruded or molded plastics, various metals, aluminum. 